SPECT/CT fusion imaging in radionuclide cisternography for localization of liquor leakage sites

J Neuroimaging. 2009 Jul;19(3):227-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2008.00270.x. Epub 2009 Sep 24.

Abstract

Objective: We report our experience with radionuclide cisternography (RC) with 111In-diethylenthriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) using a computed tomography (CT) mounted hybrid gamma camera in patients with cerebrospinal liquor leakage.

Methods: SPECT/CT fusion imaging was performed in case of suspected tracer egress on planar or SPECT images in order to obtain a detailed correlation of the leakage site.

Results: Leakage was detected in all 3 patients. Using SPECT/CT, the extradural tracer accumulation could be correlated to an anatomical structure, which had not been possible by evaluation of the scintigraphic studies alone.

Conclusion: Introducing SPECT/CT for radionuclide cisternography seems to be a valuable tool to facilitate the diagnosis of cerebrospinal liquor leakage.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Intracranial Hypotension / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelography / methods*
  • Pentetic Acid
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Pentetic Acid